Longtime Kroger exec retires

After 44 years of service, Donna Giordano, president of the Ralphs division of The Kroger Co., is retiring.



Giordano’s retirement from the company will be effective July 23. She joined the company's King Soopers banner as a courtesy clerk in 1972, while still in college, and was named store manager at King Soopers in 1982. Giordano later held various director-level positions in key areas, including advertising, bakery, general merchandise, grocery, and pharmacy.



In 1999, Giordano was promoted to VP of sales & marketing of King Soopers. She was then promoted to president of QFC in 2002 before being named to her current role in 2011.



"Donna's distinguished leadership has helped Ralphs continue to grow, serve more customers in the highly-competitive Southern California market, and help Kroger across our business," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "She is respected throughout the industry and among our associates for her strategic leadership and engagement in the communities we serve. The entire Kroger family thanks Donna for her many contributions and wishes her and her family all the best in retirement."



Kroger is promoting Valerie Jabbar to succeed her. Jabbar currently serves as VP of merchandising for Ralphs. Jabbar began her career with the company in 1987 as a clerk in the Fry's division. She held numerous leadership roles at Fry's, including assistant store director, category manager, and drug and general merchandise coordinator.



From 2002 – 2010, she served in a variety of drug and general merchandising leadership roles at Kroger's general office in Cincinnati and in the Fry's division. She was named Fry's district manager in 2010, and was promoted to serve as VP of merchandising to the Mid-Atlantic division in 2012. Jabbar was promoted to her current role in the Ralphs division in 2013.



Giordano is the second longtime Kroger executive to announce their retirement this month. On June 2, Russ Dispense, president of the King Soopers division of The Kroger Co., said he would retire on July 1 after 51 years with the company.